Magnitude-5 quake cuts power on Iran's Qeshm island; no casualties reported

Associated Press

Last update: September 17, 2008 - 2:48 PM

TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's Seismological Center says a magnitude-5 earthquake has cut electricity and caused panic on Iran's Qeshm island in the Persian Gulf.

The official news agency IRNA says no casualties or damage have been reported.

Wednesday's earthquake was the second strong temblor to hit Qeshm in a week. On Sept. 10, a magnitude-6 quake killed seven people and injured 40 others. It sent tremors across the Gulf and shook the skyscrapers of Dubai.

Iran is located on seismic fault lines and experiences at least one slight earthquake every day on average.

A magnitude-6.6 quake flattened the historic city of Bam in the same region in December 2003, killing 26,000 people.

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